Reading the Bible can be overwhelming at first. You might need help figuring out where to start or how to keep reading daily. But don’t worry! You can start out slowly. If you want to make reading the Bible a regular practice, try reading one verse a day.
You are influenced by what you read. Christians, moreover, are obligated to establish their lives on the truths found in the Bible. Daily Bible reading will help you achieve this goal. If you’re struggling to get started, try these steps:
Which Bible book should you read first?
Where do I begin? It’s a common query among brand-new Christians. You can literally start in any location. On the other hand, there are some considerations you should make. The first issue is that it could be challenging for brand-new readers to jump right in from the beginning of the Old Testament. However, if you want to gain a better comprehension of the Bible as a whole, you can start chronologically from the book of Genesis.
You can start with the Gospels, namely the book of Mark. Of the four Gospels, this one is the shortest and contains an account of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
The Gospel of John is also another good place to begin. Reading this book will help you better grasp who Christ is and the purpose of His ministry. The emphasis is on Jesus the person rather than just His works.
Where you begin is determined by your particular objectives. Our advice is to pray that the Lord would guide you to the Bible verse, section, or book that He wants you to read. If you are ever confused, you can always pray to God for insight and discernment. Take your time and pace yourself while you read. Begin with a chapter or even a verse a day and gradually increase your reading as your interest and enthusiasm grow.
Always Begin and End with a Prayer
Before reading the Bible, you should pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance so that you might thoroughly comprehend God’s Word. The same concept holds true after reading God’s Word. It can be perilous to rely solely on human knowledge. You may overlook critical facts or fail to grasp the overall picture.
Here’s a prayer you can do before starting:
Lord, open my eyes as I look to Your Word.
I desire to understand you, to comprehend life, and to be transformed.
Examine me in the light of your truth, Lord.
Amen.
Application
Faith without actions is dead, as stated in the book of James 2:17. It’s not enough to just read the Scriptures without putting into action what you have learned from them. Here are some things you can do:
1. Remain in Jesus and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance
It is said in His Word that obeying God’s commands is impossible without the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.
2. Pray
Never stop praying and communicating with the Lord. He hears us and understands our plights.
3. Read, Understand, Memorize, Meditate, and repeat
Read the Bible repeatedly until you can recite it by memory. Even if it’s just one verse a day. Meditate and ask for God’s guidance for better understanding.
4. Believe that what the Bible says is the truth
You cannot put into action the things which you don’t truly believe in. Make an effort to believe what you’re reading.
5. Obey His commandments
Take time to understand the Scripture’s message and follow its instructions. It may be difficult at first, but if you practice it on a regular basis, you will gradually get into the routine.
Conclusion
The Bible is a tremendous tool for understanding God and His messages. However, reading it can be difficult, and you may be unsure where to begin. Pray for Holy Spirit direction and read the Bible one verse at a time; you’ll get the hang of it eventually. There is no need to hurry! You might also try visiting the Bible Portal for more resources to help you in your journey through the Bible.